How Should We As Christians Vote?

How Should We As Christians Vote?

by

Shawn Thrasher

As we draw near the US Presidential election we, as Christians, need to know exactly in which direction to cast our votes. Regarding what some would deem a dilemma, you would think that as Christians, we would already have our answer. After several debates and interviews with people, all professing Christianity, there seems to be some serious ills among us . I could say that this is a very serious election but all elections are very serious. The main stream media tends to characterize this particular election as "one of the most important in US history" because there is an issue of race involved. Let me be very candid, race should be inconsequential to an election. If someone is of the same color as you are they obligated to do something specific or favorable for you and others that look like you? That would be an injustice to all people. So what should your disposition be? Answer Philippians 2:5; "Have this mind in you that is also in Christ Jesus". We should have the mind or attitude of Christ. What was the attitude of Christ? Philippians 2:1-8 answers the question as to what type of mind we should have. 1. Christians should be Unified. Unified in Christ. Christ did the will of the Father therefore; if we are in Christ we will do the will of the Father. 2.We will be intent on one purpose, bringing Heaven to Earth. 3.We will regard others as more important than ourselves; specifically the unborn children. 4. Do not look out for your own personal interests; so many people are waiting on the next president to fix the economy that they forgot that it is God who regulates an economy, not a president!!! In addition, if you're a poor steward it won't matter how good the economy is because you won't benefit from it. 5. Last of all, Jesus humbled Himself, till death, to authority. If we say that we obey God we must obey the earthly governments because He has commanded us to do so. That means pay your taxes, pay your tickets, keep your car insured, and whatever else the government deems as the law. It is not until the government violates the laws of God do we not have to comply. Have this mind that is also in Christ Jesus!! Below is a video that gives some great reasons as to how we should vote. Please allow yourselves to see past the messengers to a message that benefits us all.
The party does not make the individual nor is one party more righteous than the other. It is not the Democratic or Republican party that you will have to answer to in the end. Ultimately, we will answer to the King of Kings who, by the way, was not voted in democratically.

Restoring the Historical Roots of American Education

By Ricardo Barber

Two Hundred years after the American Revolution, America is still governed by its first Constitution. We are now the longest running constitutional republic in the history of the world. To give some perspective, France has had eight constitutions in the same 200 years. Italy has had 54 constitutions in 200 years. Why have we survived so long? It is because our founding fathers built our constitution according to a set of ideals that are unparalleled in the history of the world. Abraham Lincoln said, “The philosophy of the school room in one generation will be the philosophy of government in the next.” If our founding fathers had a successful philosophy of government, which obviously they did, then it is very fair that we look back to the classroom to see what they taught.

Harvard is the oldest ongoing university in the U.S.; Harvard produced a number of our early leaders, including John Quincy Adams, John Hancock, John Adams, and Samuel Adams. Harvard’s original stated purpose for its students was: “To be plainly instructed and consider well that the main end of your life and studies is to know God and Jesus….
One requirement of students was that, “Everyone shall so exercise himself in reading the Scriptures twice a day that he shall be able to give an account of his proficiency therein.”
Yale also produced many early leaders, men like Noah Webster, William Samuel Johnson, Abraham Baldwin. One of Yale’s requirements for its students read as follows: “Seeing that God is the giver of all wisdom every student, besides his private and secret prayer will be present morning and evening for public prayer.”

Princeton, founded in 1746, produced people like James Madison, Benjamin Rush and John Witherspoon. John Witherspoon became an ordained minister and was president of Princeton University (1768-1776) until New Jersey sent him to Congress. During those years at Princeton the average class was between 17 and 28 students per year. In the nine years that Witherspoon taught at Princeton the school graduated 1 President, 1 Vice President, 3 Supreme Court Justices, 10 Cabinet members, 12 Governors, 21 U.S. Senators, and 39 U.S. Congressman. About one-third of the early leaders were trained at Princeton University. What was the philosophy of an institution that produced so many national leaders? Princeton’s founding statement was: “Cursed is all learning that is contrary to the cross of Christ.” It has been many years since we have seen this kind of vision of godly leadership within society set before us.

The Articles of Confederation, The Declaration of Independence, The U.S. Constitution and The Northwest Ordinance are the four documents that are considered as the laws upon which all other laws are built in the United States. The Northwest Ordinance tells a territory specifically what it has to do in order to become a state in the United States. Article III requires that no territory could become a state unless the schools in that territory were teaching religion and morality as well as knowledge. As a result, many state constitutions contain the following: “Forever in the schools of this state, religion and morality will be taught as well as knowledge.” You may want to check your state constitution.

Look at Fisher Ames’ ("the forgotten founding father") philosophy of education, who by the way was the author of the First Amendment of the Constitution, which today is mis-interpreted to mean we must separate God and government.

“Why, then if these new books for children must be retained, as they will be, Should not the Bible regain the place it once held as a schoolbook? Its morals are pure; its examples are captivating and noble. And the reverence for the sacred book that is thus early impressed lasts long; and, probably, if not impressed in infancy, never takes firm hold of the mind."

When God was removed from American education it started the self-destructive results our nation is seeing now. Our students never become leaders in their communities, nations, and the world. Birth rates for unwed girls (15-19) have increased more since the removal of God from education and the number of dropouts as well. The only hope of America is for Christ-centered leaders to be trained and to rise to positions of influence throughout society and for us as Christ-followers to evangelize the persons we come in contact with everyday.

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
But fools despise wisdom and instruction." Proverbs 1:7

Instant Replay Overcoming Guilt of the Past

Instant Replay
Overcoming Guilt of the Past
by David Jeremiah

Is an unconfessed sin replaying itself over and over in the depths of your conscience?

In His mercy, the Lord sent a friend to confront David. At last, the hidden thing was known, out in the open to be dealt with. Psalm 51 is David's prayer of confession and repentance. Here he accepts full responsibility for his sin, saying, "Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your loving kindness. . . . Blot out my transgressions . . . for I acknowledge my transgression, and my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight" (verses 1-4).

The only way to eradicate guilt is to acknowledge what we have done, take full responsibility for it, and seek God's forgiveness. If you keep covering your sin-hiding it and pushing it away-you'll never know the relief David found. He didn't blame society. He just looked himself in the mirror and said, "I'm the one. It's my responsibility."

Biblical confession provides the world's only answer to guilt.

I noticed in reading Psalm 51 that, having described sin with great intensity, David went on to describe forgiveness with the same intensity. He asked God to wash him, cleanse him, make him whiter than snow, blot out his transgressions, create in him a new heart, restore joy to his life, and renew his testimony so that other sinners might learn about forgiveness and be converted. "O Lord," he cried, "open my lips, and my mouth shall show forth Your praise" (verse 15).

When I was in high school, I worked for a hardware store. One night I realized I had accidentally kept $20 without depositing it in the register.

I rationalized that I'd been working hard and deserved to keep the money, and save my dad a lot of embarrassment. As time went by it occasionally came to mind and I felt guilty about it.

Years later, I became overwhelmed with the guilt of what I'd done, calculated the interest on twenty dollars, and sent $60 to the hardware store owner. I felt a little better; but still, I had not confessed my sin or asked forgiveness.

Sometime later, I moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana; and during my pastorate there, the hardware industry had a convention in our city. One Sunday, as I was in the pulpit preaching, who should walk into the church but my former boss, Fred, the hardware store owner, and his wife.

As soon as the service ended, I took them back to my office and said, "I want to ask you a question. Do you remember several years ago getting an envelope with sixty dollars in it?"

"Yeah," said Fred, curious.

"That was from me," I said, breaking down in tears. "I want to ask you to forgive me because I took some money when I was working for you as a fifteen-year-old boy. I put it in my pocket and I took it home, and I never did repay it. I tried to repay it with the money I sent you, but I know that's not the way it's done. So I'm asking you to forgive me."

They put their arms around me and hugged me and told me they loved me and thanked me for the courage to confess my actions before them.

Forgiveness erases the tape and brings an end to the constant, tormenting instant replays of the conscience. Forgiveness brings freedom, and God grants forgiveness through the blood of Jesus. You don't have to live with guilt all your life. You can be liberated. God will forgive you, and I think most people will forgive you, too, if you ask them. But you've got to initiate the process.

"Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit," proclaimed David in Psalm 32:1-2.

If you've never received the forgiveness of sin and the release of the guilt of your life, you can do it today by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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This article was excerpted from Turning Points, Dr. David Jeremiah's devotional magazine. Call Turning Point at 1-800-947-1993 for your complimentary copy of Turning Points.